Valerio's agrees to pay $600 fine for health violations

An east Erie restaurant has agreed to pay a $600 fine and court costs for violating the Pennsylvania food code.

The owners of Valerio's, 1803 E. 38th St., pleaded guilty to 14 citations of the state food code during an appearance Tuesday before Erie 5th Ward District Judge Joseph Lefaiver.

The citations were the result of an Erie County Department of Health inspection performed March 4 in which 14 food-code violations were discovered. They included having two coolers that did not keep food cold enough, a person in charge who was not performing required duties, and not properly cleaning or maintaining areas of its kitchen.

The restaurant is owned by David Valerio, Michael Valerio and Jamie DeHaas.

The county Health Department can file citations when a facility earns at least eight "risk factor" violations that pose an immediate risk to customers' health; 12 or more total violations; failure to respond to a notice of violation; four or more repeated "risk factor" violations within 24 months, or if the facility operates without a license.